Tourist in Chernivtsi: where to eat, drink coffee and enjoy local beer on a budget
The famous Austrian publicist Georg Heinzen once wrote the following about Chernivtsi: "this is a city where 'Sunday afternoons began with Schubert and ended with a duel. The city of Chernivtsi, halfway between Kyiv and Bucharest, between Krakow and Odesa, was the unofficial capital of Europe, where the best coloratura sopranos sang, where the sidewalks were swept with bouquets of roses, and where there were more bookstores than coffee shops. Chernivtsi was a ship of pleasure with a Ukrainian crew, German officers, and Jewish passengers on board, and which, under the Austrian flag, constantly sailed between the West and the East."
If you are planning a trip to the sights of western Ukraine, the Carpathian portal Karpaty.Rocks recommends visiting Chernivtsi and enjoying the ancient atmosphere of the city by visiting cozy restaurants serving local cuisine, coffee shops serving aromatic Viennese coffee, and pubs to enjoy fresh draft beer.
If you find yourself in the historic center of Chernivtsi, you should definitely visit the Grand Cafe coffee house museum, located on one of the city's leading streets, at the intersection of Kafedralna and O. Kobylyanska streets. One hundred years ago, the first coffee shop of the same name in the city was located on the site of the modern establishment, which was built by Austrian entrepreneurs Max Apisdorf and Wollmann.
Visiting the place, you will be pleasantly surprised not only by the attention and courtesy of the staff, but also by the spirit of the old atmosphere, which is formed by many antiques from the period of Austrian city administration. Even the interior itself is based on elements of past eras. The stained glass windows and vaulted rocks in the restaurant seem to take you back in time.
The owners, Serhiy Astratov and Liudmyla Yakymchuk, spent almost two years collecting exhibits for the coffee shop-museum in Chernivtsi and Europe. And we can safely say that you won't see anything like this even in the city's Museum of Local Lore. In particular, the coffee shop has a large collection of kerosene lamps and more than a hundred types of unique Austrian bricks that tell the story of brick factories and their owners. There is also an old telephone, a gramophone that still plays, and an old working silver cash register. The walls are decorated with authentic lithographs, most of which are of the families of the Austrian emperor.
Among the old documents in the museum are a license to work as a craftsman in Chernivtsi, Austrian and Romanian passports, a pension certificate, a marriage certificate, and old banknotes used in Chernivtsi. There are also 50 khelers and one krona, which are purely local and very rare money. In fact, all the documents and household items here are almost unique in their kind.
The Grand Cafe offers European cuisine and traditional Austrian desserts made according to original recipes of the nineteenth century. In particular, almond cake "Esterhazy" and chocolate "Sacher", unique Viennese "Strudel with apples", and the signature coffee dessert of the Grand Cafe. These sweet delicacies can be washed down with specialty coffee made from locally roasted beans from around the world, as well as tea or cocktails.
In Chernivtsi, at 246 Holovna St., there is another establishment with a reputation as a trendy city restaurant. This is the Brizol restaurant, which is actually the former Quartz restaurant, known for its colorful banquets and excellent reputation, but in 2016, the concept and cuisine of this restaurant were completely renewed.
The restaurant has a varied menu and a high level of service and cuisine. The rich bar card will not leave any gourmet indifferent. The restaurant "Brizol" positions itself as an institution where employees are ready to do everything to make guests feel comfortable while enjoying excellent delicious food and a refined atmosphere.
The restaurant offers European classical cuisine, Ukrainian cuisine, as well as author's dishes from the chef. The restaurant has two halls: lower for 150 guests and upper for 300 guests, a lounge bar for 50-60 people, a wonderful summer terrace with landscaping, where you can have a cozy chat over a cup of coffee, designed for 80 people, as well as a terrace on the second floor (30 people).
During the warm season, there is a playground outside. In winter and in bad weather, children can play behind a screen indoors.
The restaurant is open every day from 12:00 to 23:00. Live music is available only on request.
And then there are a few more interesting places to visit while staying in Chernivtsi.
Visit, evaluate, share your impressions with your family and friends, and definitely come back to this wonderful city again!
